Little Falls transcript., 1887-05-13

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~ = #'s .2.3z.: A Z, Some,pils Journal
ABOUT DIAMONDS. ,.
Lsgendary and Ristorical 1ntormation
Concernlng Their Virtues aud Value.
Among all the ancients the diamond
was held rs an amulet possessing won
.lerful power and immense intrinsic
value. ~-.':
There arc three forms in which the
diamond is cut, the brilliant, the rose
and the table. The shape Of the stones
in many cases is regulated by its form
in the rough. The brilliant is the most
valuable, the rose second, and the ta-
BILE last. z.:@
I The only American diamond of con-
sidcrnble size, and we'll vouched for,
was found by u man named Benjamin
Moore. a laborer, in the employ of Mr..
James Fisher, Jr.. at Manchester, near
Richmond, Va, in the month of April,
1855. Its weight was 27.7 carats.
The old writer's mention imitation OF
diamonds by subjecting the sapphire,
amethyst, topaz or chrysolite to fire,
by which the color was extracted and
the brilliancy kept. 1t is common
error that the diamond will glisten in
the dark. No more light emanates
from it than from any other stone.
Master Thomas Vicols gives this
opinion of the virtues of the diamond.
He says: ut will make men rich and
eloquent; it will preserve from thunder
and lightning; it will create dreams,
keep men chaste, hinder fascination,
stop witchcraft and make men invisi-
ble
The principal diamond mines are the
districts of the East Indies, extending
from Cape Comorin to Bengal, and the
Brazilian localities. They are found in
the Ural, Russia, and upon the western
coast of Affica. Diamonds have been
found in Georgia recently and in Wis.,
consin, so it is said. In the year 172,
diamonds were found in Brazil, at t.
juco, on the Rio San Francisco.
In 1871 a diamond of 1888 carats was
found, on the Rio de Abaite, by three
criminals who had escaped from Rio
Janeiro. Knowing it to be diamond,
but not having any chance of disposing
Of it, they consulted q priest, who adj
vised them.to throw themselves upon
the mercy of the Emperor and present
their jewel. They did SO and were
parttoned, his Majesty pocketing the
diamond.
1t is only within two hundred years
that any system in the valuation Of
diamonds has been arrived at. In Eu-
rope, until within the past hundrea
years, there was no scale Of value. The
old manner of valuation, thus: II II
diamond of single carat was wortl,
$40, one of carats was worth $3.50.
one of 8 carats $3.50, is exploded; as
diamonds become more plenty the
quality determines. the value, that
ranges from $2osto $500 per carat.
| Much depends upon the taste and
I skill of the lapidary in producing finely
cut, clear stones. Having decided
upon the form he will cut the stone,
he next makes Il model in lead, which
model rests continually before him as a
guide to his labors. Cutting is q work
Of great labor and time. OF the rela-
tive value OF the cut and uncut dia-
mond there can be no positive cer-
tainty, though it is understood that the
finished stone is worth three times the
rough stone.
The diamond is cold to the touch and
can not be looked through, as can all
limitations. Before cut its coat is
rosgh and looks like greenish glass.
Until the year l476 the diamond was
worn uncut. Many stones, supposed
to be the most beautiful in the world,
are in that state. Z Holland for long
1 period held monopoly of diamond.
cutting. England gradually came in,
and finally the United States have
turned out some very nice work. New
i York and Chicago are the headquarters
tor diamond-cutting. ..%.> j.. ~.
The composition Of the paste or Paris
brilliant is fine, pure white glass sand
! or silex, the best of which is found in
Rhode Island and exported to Paris fol
that use; potash, borax. red-lead and
arsenic; these substances are put into q
crucible, which is kept at agreat heat
for twenty-fuur hours or longer. The
mixture which results il called t.strass;''
tits cast into molds, cut and polished
the same as glass, and thus receives all
the facets and limitations Of che real
stone. These brilliants have the rich.
ness and refraction Of the true diamond,
but not its hardness; q few months
wear takes away their brilliancy, the
air corrodes their surface. An imita-
tiOn can be readily detected, either b.
the crucible or the file. A file will
make no impression upon the genuine
diamond, mother will the test Of FIRE
bat that mus. be used with care. - QAs,
cago Nssrs 4 Il ..s. s... s. &
4 ranchman from Concho County
went into Nose Schanmburg' 8 Austin
i Clothing Emporium last week. he
/ got into : dispute. knocked Nose
down, blacksned the eye 81 young
4 Jake, and used frontier lang gusgs to
l lrs.. SCI SselI Moss had the
ranchman arTested for q and foI
slands dsring kiu thy pub blicIy proclaian-
4 inG m tho Steoets sthat H W1sSa thief
IL - slent III lawyer IS Moss
W ~ = haying tho uaftttsg Ut
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